How long to break in new gloves?

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greenmonster

Well-known member
Yesterday I treated myself to a new pair of gloves from the Dainese store in SF - a pair of Druid 3’s. I took my time, tried on a few styles and got a size L which is what I’ve always been comfortable wearing. Went out today for a couple of hours, gloves are stiff but seemed to loosen up a bit after a while. They sorta feel like oven mitts compared to my old very broken in Sedicis similar style.
How long will this “oven mitt” feeling last? Is there something I can do to help them break in? Is this just the way Dainese gloves are?
 
W800

W800

Noob
greenmonster said:
Yesterday I treated myself to a new pair of gloves from the Dainese store in SF - a pair of Druid 3’s. I took my time, tried on a few styles and got a size L which is what I’ve always been comfortable wearing. Went out today for a couple of hours, gloves are stiff but seemed to loosen up a bit after a while. They sorta feel like oven mitts compared to my old very broken in Sedicis similar style.
How long will this “oven mitt” feeling last? Is there something I can do to help them break in? Is this just the way Dainese gloves are?
Click to expand...

I just checked those out on their website. They are nice!!!

My experience with gloves is that they won't feel less thick over time - but will feel more flexible over time. The break in time depends on a lot of factors, most of which is just time and weather (and how sweaty your hands are). Here's some more info that I found:

https://www.dainese.com/us/en/dainese/faq.html
 
G

greenmonster

Well-known member
Yeah , normally I wouldn’t spend so much on gloves but I worked a little OT and and said to myself “screw it” I’m going for it.
Great store by the way, very helpful staff, even the parking was easy.
 
ScottRNelson

ScottRNelson

Mr. Dual Sport Rider
I have at least eight pairs of motorcycle gloves of various varieties and each brand/style breaks in differently. I have a set of Cortech gloves with the plastic knuckle thingies that still are not broken in. I recently purchased some Held gloves here on BARF (Held is my favorite) and they break in fairly quickly, although I don't consider them fully broken in yet after at least ten hours of riding. I have a set of "warm" gloves that didn't need any break-in at all, but those don't work if there is any chance of your hands getting sweaty.

If I'm breaking in gloves on a longer ride, I'll bring a second pair of older gloves along if they start to bother me so that I can switch.
 
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NoTraffic

Well-known member
Almost all my gloves are Dainese, some have the protector insert on the outer palm like your Druid 3's - these take a little longer for break in because you essentially have a plastic insert that will never bend/ply. I usually find after 2-3 months, they're broken in but that's with constant daily commute riding and spring/summer weather.
 
fufo47

fufo47

Well-known member
in my experience, most Dainese gloves have the most painful break in process of all the gloves out there BUT once you're through, they are the best/most comfortable gloves you'll every have!!!

Use them to mow the lawn, used them to drive to and from the track, use them to sleep and in 2-3 months you'll be living the dream!
 
D

davidji

bike curious
greenmonster said:
Is this just the way Dainese gloves are?
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Dainese unlined leather gloves I've had fit perfectly from brand new until worn through.

That's pretty much how it is for all gloves I've had. Either they fit well or they don't. If they're the wrong shape, they never fit well. Fingers too fat can lead to stiff, oven mit feeling if your fingers curl a bit before glove starts curling with them.

Other people talk about breaking in gloves that aren't a perfect fit from the start. Maybe that works for some unlined leather gloves for them. That hasn't worked for me.
 
stangmx13

stangmx13

not Stan
dunk them in warm water, then go ride. then condition afterwards.

or

condition the crap out of them, inside & out, then go ride.

either way will speed up the break-in process.
 
W800

W800

Noob
fufo47 said:
in my experience, most Dainese gloves have the most painful break in process of all the gloves out there BUT once you're through, they are the best/most comfortable gloves you'll every have!!!

Use them to mow the lawn, used them to drive to and from the track, use them to sleep and in 2-3 months you'll be living the dream!
Click to expand...

I thought I was the only person who slept with my gloves on! Now I feel safe to come out and admit this does work, and I have done it.

Also works for jackets too, LOL.

I think the scientific reason has to do with heat and humidity. I like to think that it's more along the lines of the leather getting to know you better. :)
 
G

greenmonster

Well-known member
stangmx13 said:
dunk them in warm water, then go ride. then condition afterwards.

or

condition the crap out of them, inside & out, then go ride.

either way will speed up the break-in process.
Click to expand...

When you say “condition them” what process/product are you talking about? I used to condition my son’s new baseball mitts with a leather conditioner then put the mitt in a warm (not hot) oven for a few minutes.
 
Blankpage

Blankpage

alien
I have the Dainese 4 stroke evo and was almost tempted to remove the “Rossi tickler” in the palm before break in cause it seemed annoying. Felt like I couldn’t wrap my fingers around the bar properly. I stuck it out and didn’t take too long for it to feel comfortable. Glade I didn’t remove that piece as now it’s seems to work as intended.

Often felt like paying someone to break in my gloves me. Maybe a business idea for some entrepreneur.
 
PunkRockMonkey

PunkRockMonkey

Wild in the Streets!
In my experience, it takes about 30 hours of riding before I feel most of my gloves are fully broken in.

My favorite way to soften stiff leather gear is treating them with leather conditioner/oil. I've seen mink oil recommended in the past, but I have also read about cases where it can dissolve/degrade certain stitching materials.

My go-to for leather break-in and restoration is Obenauf's leather oil and LP conditioner. The latter does a great job of waterproofing leather as well. I've used their products on everything from track boots/gloves to a dried out, faded, heavy duty, leather cop jacket.

leather-oil-2T.jpg
 
G

greenmonster

Well-known member
PunkRockMonkey said:
In my experience, it takes about 30 hours of riding before I feel most of my gloves are fully broken in.

My favorite way to soften stiff leather gear is treating them with leather conditioner/oil. I've seen mink oil recommended in the past, but I have also read about cases where it can dissolve/degrade certain stitching materials.

My go-to for leather break-in and restoration is Obenauf's leather oil and LP conditioner. The latter does a great job of waterproofing leather as well. I've used their products on everything from track boots/gloves to a dried out, faded, heavy duty, leather cop jacket.

leather-oil-2T.jpg
Click to expand...

Ah, this is great, I’ll look into the Obenaufs products. I’m typically a weekend rider so amassing 30 hours of riding will take a while.
Specifically the new gloves take more effort when I extend my hands to grip the levers. Plus I can’t really feel the levers if I’m two fingering through an intersection on the ready for left turners.
I guess I just have to get our there and ride!!
 
RVFRick

RVFRick

Well-known member
Dainese Full Metal

My recent experience with gloves has been with Dainese Full Metal 1 and 6.

I really like the fit and feel of these top Dainese gloves. Even though they are factory sewn pre-curved it still took effort to stretch and make clearance for my knuckles against the hard knuckle guards. For both versions I suffered hand cramps and pressure on the back of the knuckles for about 32-40 hours until they relaxed enough that I didn't have to strain to hold them closed. I figure if they last 2-3 riding seasons it's worth the pain.

Surprisingly, my Metal 6 set work moderately well with my cellphone touch screen. The Metal 1s finally worked with my phone when a hole developed at the finger tip :laughing

I wonder how pro-riders get their gloves pre-conditioned, surely they don't have to suffer the break-in period.

BTW does anyone has a cure/treatment for stinky glove syndrome, please share. :bigbarf
 
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W800

W800

Noob
RVFRick said:
BTW does anyone has a cure/treatment for stinky glove syndrome, please share. :bigbarf
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The amateur chemist in me says to dilute about 1/10th to 2/10th of a CC of 50 percent Benzalkonium Chloride solution in 16 oz. of distilled water and apply by misting onto inside and outside of gloves. Then let dry in sunlight.

Issue is you have to use a respirator to mix that stuff.

So maybe just go to last step and leave the gloves in direct sunlight for a few hours?
 
G

greenmonster

Well-known member
RVFRick said:
My recent experience with gloves has been with Dainese Full Metal 1 and 6.

I really like the fit and feel of these top Dainese gloves. Even though they are factory sewn pre-curved it still took effort to stretch and make clearance for my knuckles against the hard knuckle guards. For both versions I suffered hand cramps and pressure on the back of the knuckles for about 32-40 hours until they relaxed enough that I didn't have to strain to hold them closed. I figure if they last 2-3 riding seasons it's worth the pain.

Surprisingly, my Metal 6 set work moderately well with my cellphone touch screen. The Metal 1s only never did until close to the end of their life where a hole broke through at the finger tip :laughing

I wonder how pro-riders get their gloves pre-conditioned, surely they don't have to suffer the break-in period.

BTW does anyone has a cure/treatment for stinky glove syndrome, please share. :bigbarf
Click to expand...

Good point about pro racers. What do they do with new gloves to get them in race ready condition?
 
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